Snakes Smoke Trail:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Snakes smoke Trail

Published: December 31, 2009

For a B.C. Hockey League coach, the first game back after the Christmas break is a lot like presents under the tree – they never know what they’re going to get. Players could come out like a lightning quick Playstation 3, or they might come out flatter than a five-pound fruitcake.

It turns out the Vernon Vipers had plenty of holiday spirit left after a nine-day break, as they iced the host Trail Smoke Eaters 4-1 before 981 fans Tuesday night at Cominco Arena.

With very few whistles and just 12 penalty minutes (three minors for each team), the game had plenty of flow and was over in less than two hours.

After a scoreless first period, the Snakes, who regrouped for practice Sunday at Wesbild Centre, got on the board when Sawyer Mick found a loose puck in a goalmouth scramble and backhanded his ninth of the season at 3:04 of the second.

“Everyone was trying to feel out the pace of the game and get back into things at first,” said Mick, who, along with three turkey dinner, and getting the usual clothes and gift certificates for Christmas, helped sponsor an African village with some pigs.

“A simple game in a first game back is what you need. Winning battles, taking the body – that’s what’s going to get you back in the swing of things.”

Added Vipers’ head coach Mark Ferner: “When you’ve got guys coming back from holiday, both coaches were probably a little concerned with how their teams were going to come out.

“We were happy with our start being on the road. We didn’t score (in the first period), but we took some momentum going into the second.

“It was pretty physical at times, but the guys (referees) just let us play, which was nice. I can honestly say we didn’t have any passengers.”

With the Vipers (34-2-0-2) getting some pressure in Trail’s zone, Jonathan Milhouse fed Connor Jones (24th) in the slot where he beat netminder Garrett Beckwith for the eventual winner at 15:36.

Thomas Abenante (5th) pulled the Smokies (12-24-1-2) within a goal late in the second period when defenceman Garrett Noonan fanned on a pass, allowing the Trail native to go in on netminder Graeme Gordon. Third star Wade Bennett earned the assist.

Gordon made 25 stops for his 25th win, while the trigger-happy Snakes peppered Beckwith with 40 shots.

Early in the third, the Snakes’ Bryce Kakoske showed some good backchecking to cause a neutral zone turnover. The Vernon product got the puck back to Noonan, who sent Braden Pimm on a solo mission, dangling past a defender and solving Beckwith for his 16th goal.

Second star Cory Kane took a slick 2-on-1 setup pass from Jones, ripped a shot past Beckwith from the slot to complete the Vipers’ attack midway through the third period.

“Very rarely does a goalie make a save on him from there because he shoots it so well,” said Ferner. “He either picks his spot, misses the net or hits the goalie.”

The Vipers ended 2009 with a New Year’s Eve tilt against the Salmon Arm SilverBacks (20-15-2-2) at the Sunwave Centre. The two teams meet again Saturday night at Wesbild.